I have had a Sprint account since 1992 and it is cheap. I pay $30 per month. But cheap is relative, I haven't made a call in over three months so that's $90 for nothing. Just like lighting a match to $90. I don't have texting and have no interest in typing on a phone, that's what my computer is for. My phone has a camera that has never been used, that's what my digital camera is for. I'm retired and on a fixed income but I feel I need something in case of emergency when I am in my car. My friend in London has a phone that she bought and only pays per call and she hasn't called anyone in almost a year and it cost her nothing. In my case, I would save over $350 per year. I'm not poor, I just have decided it's time to find an alternative. Any suggestions?
C. T.

Tracfone has a touchscreen phone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, video camera, camera and internet for only 90$ and comes with 1450 minutes and is triple minutes for life! you pay as you go, that's why I have it, I only use 50-100 minutes/ month and I love it! Dollar General has it and it comes with a car charger, micro sd card and sim!

BTW ctchandler, after your initial purchase those 1450 minutes based on how much you use it would last you years! After it is used up you just add a 20$ card to it and it triples and you have months more talk time for just that 20$!

Dmoor82,
Thank you very much. I think I have heard enough and this thread can be closed. I'm tied up tomorrow, but in the next few days I will purchase a Tracfone and cancel my Sprint contract.
C. T.

Another possibility for you, C.T., is the T-Mobile Pay-As-You-Go program that gives you 1000 minutes for $100.00 and one year of service. No remembering to buy a card to keep the service on, etc. simple plan is here (http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/genericregular.aspx?passet=pro_pro_goldrewards) .. Just go down to the last selection.

There are super cheap, no-frills phones that just make calls and the occasional text if necessary -- imagine that! -- a phone that just makes phone calls! A different world.

Actually, Walmart has a Samsung T139 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/14053386?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227010283891&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42110562190&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34877171230&veh=sem) (which has a camera - but they all do and all the "extra stuff" is out of the way). As no-frills as they come. $19.88.

Good luck! I understand your frustration with "phones" that do everything but make breakfast (and some of them spit out eggs and toast every morning - okay, not really).

My wife had this plan for 3 years and I helped a handicapped neighbor sign up on it also. It's the cheapest of any we found. After your initial year runs out you can pay only $10 to get another year of service & carry a portion of your minutes forward so the 2nd year and on is where the savings really add up.

Zookeeper,
Dang, you make it difficult. This sounds good too. But, I'm glad to hear the options. Funny thing, my last phone from Sprint (free, by the way) I told them I didn't want a camera phone. Unfortunately, they don't offer a phone without a camera anymore.
Thanks for the tip.
C. T.
Another possibility for you, C.T., is the T-Mobile Pay-As-You-Go program that gives you 1000 minutes for $100.00 and one year of service. No remembering to buy a card to keep the service on, etc. simple plan is here (http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/genericregular.aspx?passet=pro_pro_goldrewards) .. Just go down to the last selection.

There are super cheap, no-frills phones that just make calls and the occasional text if necessary -- imagine that! -- a phone that just makes phone calls! A different world.

Actually, Walmart has a Samsung T139 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/14053386?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227010283891&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42110562190&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34877171230&veh=sem) (which has a camera - but they all do and all the "extra stuff" is out of the way). As no-frills as they come. $19.88.

Good luck! I understand your frustration with "phones" that do everything but make breakfast (and some of them spit out eggs and toast every morning - okay, not really).

CT,
I'd believe a TracPhone, or something similar, is in order. You can keep your
phone number and pay a set amount per month. You've definitely paid
your dues to the money grubbing government and deserve to have most,
yes I said most, of it returned to you. Don't think of this as a handout.
Think of it as getting your money back.

Here's an article that may help.

Free government cell phone ? USATODAY.com (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/story/2012-06-01/low-income-lifeline-plan/55315532/1)

Prunepicker,
Don't know what I deserve, but I have good news/bad news, bad news is, I make too much money to qualify, the good news is, I make too much money to qualify. Actually, I'm not rich or poor, just tired of blowing $30 per month on something I don't use. But I need it for emergencies. Since I live alone I could be on the side of a road for several days before anybody noticed. My boys are good but we don't talk daily. Thanks for the link though. I do have some options that will be a lot cheaper.
C. T.
CT,
I'd believe a TracPhone, or something similar, is in order. You can keep your
phone number and pay a set amount per month. You've definitely paid
your dues to the money grubbing government and deserve to have most,
yes I said most, of it returned to you. Don't think of this as a handout.
Think of it as getting your money back.

Here's an article that may help.

Free government cell phone ? USATODAY.com (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/story/2012-06-01/low-income-lifeline-plan/55315532/1)

Can't beat $1.00/mo with TerraCom Wireless, Text and Calling, 1,000 minutes per month...if you qualify.

Page Plus is one of the only MVNO that use verizon's CMDA network. $10 for 100 minutes which are good for 3 months.

Page Plus is one of the only MVNO that use verizon's CMDA network. $10 for 100 minutes which are good for 3 months.

It's this "good for 3 months" junk that upsets a lot of people. Why keep people making sure their phones are "topped up" four times a year? At least T-Mobile and Tracfone both have reasonable options for X number of minutes (plenty) for a year. Those like C.T. don't want to be messing with "topping up" and counting minutes and watching for approaching expiration dates, just to make a few phone calls.

You could find a cheap phone like this lady?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio&app=desktop

It's this "good for 3 months" junk that upsets a lot of people. Why keep people making sure their phones are "topped up" four times a year? At least T-Mobile and Tracfone both have reasonable options for X number of minutes (plenty) for a year. Those like C.T. don't want to be messing with "topping up" and counting minutes and watching for approaching expiration dates, just to make a few phone calls.

Yep, agreed, wife has T-Mobile pay-as-you-go plan, does $100 once per year, writes down the date on the calendar and if she doesn't use up the minutes during the year, tops it up about a week before the due date. Likes it a lot, pretty basic LG flip phone, all she needs for now...

I've often thought about getting a no-frills cell phone. With the amount
of free wi-fi available it may be a good idea. I can use my iPhone as an
iTouch. Hey, I'm paying about $80 per month for a phone. 90% of my
calls are business related. I have never had more than 100 minutes
of talk. In fact I've currently got over 15,000 roll over minutes. I average
about 30 texts per month, including that Apple talk thing that's free.
I don't download anything unless I'm at home and using wi-fi.

Being connected isn't important to me but I do like the idea of instant
information. Still, does it honestly warrant $80 per month?